Were you given the lease at the same time as you signed the other papers?

If you were, then that three day period could reasonably be the "buyer's remorse" or rescission period for the $500.00 I can't answer for sure without physically reviewing what you signed.

My thoughts would be these:

1) carefully review the lease itself and see if it makes any provisions for how initial or pre-deposits are held. Take a look and see if it deals with a "time to accept" usually leases will have such a clause in them and state that all sums paid thereunder are refundable.

2) Call the rental agency (if the staff person is giving you the run around, talk to the rental manager) and tell them the situation. Let them know that the fees and expenses are coming as a complete shock to you and no where were they mentioned when you gave your deposit and you are having second thoughts about renting from them.

I'll be honest with you (don't shoot the messenger here), if you signed something saying that the $500 deposit is non-refundable outside of the three days, unconditionally, then there's not much that you can do except to play on their sympathies.

However if you gave the $500 with the understanding that there would be a lease review period, then you have a good shot.

If they didn't give you the lease until the three days have expired, or if it's been less then three days since you received the lease to review you have an argument that you should be entitled to cancel based on a full three day rescission/review period.

Another option would be to actually try and negotiate some of the expenses in the lease. However if, as you said, it's a competitive apartment, they'd just as soon take your money and rent to someone else.

Let me know if you have any questions on this. I get the feeling that there's more to this then has been said. Feel free to follow up, you won't be charged anything more.

If I've answered your question, please click on the green accept button, if I have not, feel free to continue your questioning. Positive feedback is always welcomed.

If you only got the lease 2 days ago, I would say that your best chance of success would be to argue that the initi agreement called for a three day review period that you can say would not start until you got the lease for review. Send a letter today certified saying that you are exercising your rescission rights under the agreement based on a review of the lease. You want a paper trail showing a cancellation within 3 days of getting the lease. Keep in mind that if the deposit is nonrefundable, you may not get it back but you want it clear to them what you are doing. Make sure to request your 500 back in the letter.

Just keep replying if you have more questions. Hope this helps

Please keep me updated if you can as I'm interested to know the outcome!